In response to strong opposition from the business community during the city’s initial public hearing on a proposed storm water tax, Auburn officials are working on a different fee structure to reduce the financial impact on businesses.

The new fee structure for non-residential properties is to be presented at a second and final public hearing Monday, Aug. 23, at 7 p.m. in the city council’s chambers adjacent to the Auburn Police Department.

Mayor Linda Blechinger, who missed the Aug. 9 public hearing, told the Barrow Journal on Thursday night that city officials would be meeting to develop the new methodology to try to lessen the financial burden on non-residential property owners.

About two-dozen property owners at the first public hearing said their businesses were losing money due to the recession and they could not bear the imposition of a new tax that would cost them hundreds or thousands of dollars.

“We looked at an across-the-board amount for everybody, but we were told we’re not allowed to do that,” Blechinger said. “The (Georgia Environmental Protection Division) said we have to do an equation based on impervious surface.”

An impervious surface is a material or structure that prevents storm water from soaking into the ground.

The city’s proposed $31-per-year fee for the average homeowner, paid in small increments on monthly water bills, would not change under the new methodology under consideration.

But fees for other property owners might be based on broader “levels” of impervious surfaces, the mayor said.

“We’re trying to come up with something where everybody is comfortable and we can still pay for the utility (services),” she said.

Blechinger said additional information also would be made available at Monday’s hearing.

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